negligent
careless and not careful enough, especially about a duty or rule
Not giving enough care or attention to a responsibility, task, or situation, often resulting in mistakes or harm.
in law: not careful enough in a way that breaks a duty and causes harm
In law, failing to act with the level of care that a reasonable person or professional is expected to use, especially when that failure causes harm or loss.
- Base: negligent
criminally negligent
1careless enough to be a crime
so careless that it becomes a crime
- Prosecutors argued that the supervisor was criminally negligent.
- The court decided the conduct was reckless but not criminally negligent.
- He was charged after investigators concluded he had been criminally negligent in handling the equipment.
grossly negligent
1extremely careless
very, very careless in a serious way
- The audit described the record-keeping as grossly negligent.
- Leaving the chemical containers open was grossly negligent.
- The court ruled that the firm had been grossly negligent in its safety checks.
- It was grossly negligent to ignore the warning signs.
negligent driving
1driving without due care
driving carelessly and unsafely
- He was fined for negligent driving after the minor collision.
- The accident report cited negligent driving as a contributing factor.
- They claimed the crash was caused by the other driver's negligent driving.
- Negligent driving can cause accidents.
negligent homicide
1causing death through serious negligence
a crime where a person causes someone’s death by being very careless, not by planning to kill them
- He was charged with negligent homicide after leaving the child alone in the hot car.
- The company director is under investigation for negligent homicide following the factory fire.
- Negligent homicide carries a lighter sentence than intentional murder.
negligent homicide
1killing caused by negligence
in law: causing someone’s death by being careless
- She was charged with negligent homicide after the fatal crash.
- The prosecutor reduced the charge from manslaughter to negligent homicide.
- He pleaded not guilty to negligent homicide.
negligent misrepresentation
1careless false statement (law)
in law: giving wrong information because you did not take enough care
- The buyer sued for negligent misrepresentation about the property's condition.
- The court dismissed the negligent misrepresentation claim for lack of evidence of reliance.
- They settled after allegations of negligent misrepresentation in the financial statements.